Variety (Sep 1942)

' Wednesday, September 23, 1942 NIGHT CLUB REYIEWS 47 Night Club Reviews ASTOR ROOF, N. Y. (ASTOB HOTEL) Les Brotun Orch (17) toith Roberla. Hal Derwin; 75c-$l cover. Les Brown's big band has Its work cut out for it at this spot, the largest hotel room (1,000 capacity) in New York It is following Harry James' big coinbinaUon, which is rated the kingpin of name orchs at the mo- ment Yet Brown should not have any difficulty. He has a fine band, one that should build a following *'*This is his first stand on Broad- way He began cutting a name for •himself almost two years ago at Glen Island Casino, New Rochelle, N. Y.: later played a lone stretch at liog Cabin, Armonk, N. Y. and an- other at the Blackhawk Cafe, Chi- cago. Past couple months he spent in the west, consequently his name is not as strong in the east. Composed of. four trumpets, three trombones, five sax (six with leader's alto) and usual four rhythm, band is a heavy group that has no partic- ularly distinctive playing style. It has a few weaknesses, one a drum mer who hasn't the finesse or ex perience necessary to handle so im portant a position in a bano of this type, but on the whole the combina- tion makes a strong Impression. It is provided with interesting arrange- ments in all grooves and it plays them cleanly with good intonation. There are outstanding soloists in the brass and reed sections: Billy Butter- field, among the trumpets. Hank D'Amico, one of the most respected of clarinetists, among the saxes, and Walter Brown, an unusually fine trombonist. . Brown himself plays alto sax, but never solo, always with the section. Being so large an outfit, it's to be expected that it will be loud. Open- ing night, before the men got useid to the room the din was deafening, but later in the week they had quieled to a level equal at least to that of Tommy Dorsey, Alvino Hey and James combos, none of which is a mickey mouse. Good pacing helps ease the drive, too; this band is extremely flexible, turning as smart a ballad as it does warmer fare. Roberta, vocalist recently put on, Is a tasty looking front for the com- bination, but only a fair singer. Hal Derwin Is the reverse. He has only fair attraction for femmes, but a whale of a voice as band vocalists go. Wood. MARINE ROOM, CHI (EDGEWATEB BEACH HOTEL) Chicago, Sept. 16. Russ Morgan Orch (20), Don Julian & Marjori, Maxine Turner. Betty Grey, Music Masters, Walter Link, Clarence Melter, Verne Vor- veck; $1 Saturday dotice odmission, dinner from $2.15. This was a great year for the open-air Beach Walk at the Edge- water Beach, but It's also pretty nice to have the entertainment and din- ing back in the smart Marine Din- Anyhow, the night sky is still the roof of this swank eatery and one can still glimpse Lake Michigan, a romantic and satisfying picture for the diners. "here's a great deal of dancing in this show, what with Don Julian and Marjori, Maxine Turner, and the Dorothy Dorben Girls in several peautitul production numbers. But Its all of a high order. Don Julian and Marjorl are a smart, youthful, versatile and origi- Jial ballroom team in their interpre- tations. Miss Tutner, clever aero dancer, Whirls and somersaults to hearty ap- plause. She is young, capable and makes a charming figure on the floor. The well-trained Dorben Dancers, in two striking numbers, reveal expert training, verve and originality. Russ Morgan's music is necessarily seaate in character for this spot. His Music Masters, four instru- mentalists, play attractively; his vocalisU, Walter Link. Clarence Melter and Verne Vorveck, operate pleasingly in solo or In trio. Mor- gan, doing some nice piano soloing, is an accomplished performer. When the band Is olT the rostrum. Betty Grey, organist, holds the in- termission spot. Loop. Rainbow Room, N. Y. Monno Monies & Alexis Dolinojff, iP'" Scott, Perlita Greco, Senor Wcnces, Dacith and her Pati-Amen- cans (5), Del Casino Orch (12), Dr. „ J/J' W minimum dinner, $1 ana $2 (Soturday) coucr. might be different, the original pat- tern of all-Latin flavor might just as well have been preserved. Either way, it doesn't quite come off. The Latin dominance lies in the talent, by name and style, including Del Casino's band, first time here; Dacita and her Pan-Americans, rhumbaconga combo (returners); Perlita Greco (New Acts) from South America; the standard Sehor Wences, with his diverting ventrilo- quism, and one-half of the Monna Montes-Alexis Dolinoff ballet team. Scott, former Fred Waring arranger, thus was added to the lineup, but doesn't pan out. Further, chanties and mountain songs done by an earnest baritone in white tie and tails somehow make for a poor parlay. Even Wences, standard with his double-talk, had difTiculty in the oval Rainbow Room. So anxious was he not to ignore the flanking sides, he overstepped matters and almost ignored the centre audience facing him. Monna Montes and Dolinoff are alumni of the Metopera hallet and she h^ been here twice before; once partnered with Jose Fernandez, and later with Dolinoff, with whom she marks her third appearance. Their 'Puritan Maid' and 'Silver Slipper' routines are broken up by the rest of the show. Comes Scott; then Miss Greco, next Wences; and then the dancers back again. Best thing are those two bands. Del Casino has the same unit he clicked with at the Beach- comber, Miami, last winter, and Dacita- is a vivacious personality at the helm of the Latin combo. Abet. power and did it without amplifica- tion. Elaine and Fred Barry make every moment count on the dance floor. Recently out of 'Priorities,' their three numbers are all clickers. Sasca Lucas' band runs to the sweet tunes for dancing, and as an accompanying group is Grade A. A tip-top show to open the Uth season of a favorite night spot. Arke. ST. CHARLES, N. O. (ST. CHARLES HOTEL) New Orleans, Sept. 11. Dwight Fiske, Four Silhouettes Orch. Dwight Fiske, playing his first en- gagement in the town's newest en- tertainment spot, attracted a packed room with his bright satires at the piano. Completely original, his stories show his personality and mastery of facial expression to such an ad- vantage that the fine musical ac- companiments create only the drama and excitement for the pungent yarns. For a four-piece combination, the Four Silhouettes are a workmanlike, tuneful combination who are equally at home playing sweet or hot. They keep the tables empty during their stay on the stand. Many of their arrangements are original and showy, side. Liuz. One of the poorest bills is the F'^ejit Rainbow Room lineup. It til? "S**^"'* jell, and while the addi- "on of Tom Scott, singing some lusty New England sea chanties and Ken- uicKy mountain songs, sounds like it Jackie Afiles, Ruth Clayton, Crato- 4ord & Coskey, Leonora Amar, Line (6), Emit Coleman Orch, JVoro Morales Orch; $3.50 minimum. VERSAILLES, N. Y. IVan Rae, Mrs, Wafer/all, Gloria Gilbert, Avis Andrews, Carolyn Marsh, The Ver-Sighs, Ben Cutler Orch, Panchito Rhumba Orch; mini- mum $2.50 Weekdays, $3.50 Satur- days-Sundays. Marjory Fielding, producer of the new show here, recognizes the scarcity of men; consequently her new revue is titled 'Life Without Men.' Show, including only gals, is disappointing as floor entertainment. When caught Friday night (18) Nan Rae m.c.ed and played straight for Mrs. Waterf&ll (Maude Davis), hoydenish Comedienne who got some laughs despite the fact her ma- terial is pretty weak. Act went off the show Monday (21), no replace- ment yet being made though it may be Paul Draper. Miss Rae and Mrs. Waterfall have long worked as a team in vaude and on the radio. Avis Andrews, colored singer, long around, has a featured spot on the show, singing several numbers. She opens the supper show working in an Egyptian type costume, later com- ing out as a maid with a doleful story to tell about the life of a house servant. While her diction suffers slightly, Miss Andrews scores okay. A whirlwind toe dancer whose pirouettes are very flashy is Gloria Gilbert (New Acts). She appears solo as well as with the six show gals billed as The Ver-Sighs, who close the show in a drill-type routine as WAACs. The line of six girls provides plenty ot looks. Carolyn Marsh works as soloist during the WAACs' number. The Ben Cutler band, an eight piece outnt playing the show as well as dance music in a highly agreeable manner, is new here. Alternate band Is the rhumba lineup of Panchito. Char, TROIKA, WASH. Washinfffon, Sept. 12 Russell Suion, Sara Ann McCabe, Elaine and Fred Barry, Sasca Lucas' Band. Helen Hamilton has redecorated this popular Connecticut Avenue rendezvous, with gold and cardinal red motif matehing well the murals with Steppes background,. Floor show, when caught Saturday night (12) dinner show, had an ap- preciative audience, one that gave the unctuous Russell Swan, emcee plenty of cooperation. Swan dug up some Joe Millers for his introductory, but warming up a smooth delivery soon had 'em in his palm. His hoke magic regis- tered as solidly as his good tricks, and with Harry Baker, of the American Society of Magicians, pre sent Swan sold some smart hocus pocus. Carol King, recently ballerina with the St. Louis opera, is a stunner for looks and dances with feathery grace. Followed by Sara Ann Mc- Cabe in a blue and silver frock that sold her on appearance. Her budget includes 'Everything I Love,' a Rudolf FrimI medley and, for an encore, 'Begin the Beguine.' Gnl has assurance, knows how to use a coloratura to good effect. Micro- phone was sour for most of her routine but the soprano has luhg boogie-woogie virtuosa, and then lam. But that's not all here. A black- and-white show, the only ofayers are The Revuers, three boys and two femmes, who are clicking better than ever. Their salute to this paper, with 'Variety Says,' wherein they 'in- terpret' our headlines and slanguage, continues a standout novelty. Their satire on "a corny Shubert operetta is a tribute to their composite authorship, because most of their stuff is a mass production collabora- tion. And the 'Psychopathic Blues,' with Lorre, Karloff and Lugosi as the three menaces, is also very brightly purveyed. Edward Matthews, baritone doub- ling from 'Porgy and Bess,' clicks with his songs, but overstays it a bit. And Teddy Wilson's dansapation is in the groove for the hoof, besides doing a zingy specialty. Bill Moore is relief, a zing congarhumba trio. Abel. Mother Kelly's, N. Y. Cully Richards, Sid Tomacfc & Reis Bros. (3), Joe Oakie, Motisey Gamer, Lolita Cordoba, Beth O'Malley, Shouigirls (6), Manny Gates Band (9) Chavez Rhumba Band (7); $2 and $2.50 minimunis. La Martinique, N. Y. Dario and Jimmy Vernon have come up with one of the best local nitery buys of the new season. Pro- duced by Billy Daniels, dancer cur- rently appearing in 'Let's Face It,' the show has class, speed, surefire comedy, dandy ensemble routines, a line of nifty lookers, gorgeous cos- tumes, a fetching warbler in Ruth Clayton and, at all times, Emil Cole- man's soothing music. Jackie Miles is making his first New York appearance; he's an as- sured hit for Broadway. Suave, immaculate, imperturbable and, to some extent, deadpan. Miles dishes a sophisticated, slightly bluish, but inoffensive; chatter which stamps him an excellent entry for the smarter cafes. To top it off he has a couple of sock novelty comedy In- terpretations. His best is an imita- tion of a reefer-smoking pitchman in a burlesque show peddling chocolate bars 'with nuts.' Scarcely less hilarl-. ous is his impression of Bing Crosby's first broadcast. Some of the comic's material is familiar, but easily acceptable via specialized de- livery. Miss Clayton, singer formerly at the Five O'clock Club, Miami Beach, blends nicely into the production. In a two-colored gown, with black lace top and pink skirt, attractive war- bler clicks easily with a Viennese waltz melody which should cue the' balance of her repertoire. She also does well with a torchy number, 'Everything I've Got Belongs to You,' but 'Abraham' and 'Johnny Dough- boy' could easily be replaced with material better suited to her style. Crawford and Caskey, dancers, are decided assets while Leonora Amar, Brazilian singer, appears but briefly in the flnale for a. song and dance with the line. Girls, tall and evenly matched, open in pale blue chiffon costumes with a cigaret-lighting number. Later they're on in an old-fashioned t>onnet-and-rufIles ensemble, with a male dancer dressed up as 'Charley's Aunt' whamming 'em with comedy terping. Finale, a Calypso-type rou- tine, is tops in costuming. Mori. Cafe Society Uptown (NEW YOBK) Edward Matthews, Hazel Scott, The Revuers (5), Teddy Wilsom (9) and Billy Moore Bands (3); $2 dinner, $2.50 and $3 nipper minimum. Back from a Columbia picture chore for Columbia and Gregory Ratoff, Hazel Scott, the No. 1 per- sonality looker from Harlem is sporting a new coiff and a mess of piano playing, as she boogie-woogies Bach and Beethoven with the same agility as barrelhouse and blues. In between she is putting herself sway with Tea for Two' and the like. Miss Scott, at the ivories, gives herself a workout that leaves her as liquid as that other colored champ, Joe Louis but there's no disputing her Creole beauty or the sockeroo dexterity of digits as she massages them black and-whites. Under contract to boniface Barney Josephson (the reformed shoe salesman who put his Cafe So ciety Uptown and Downtown into the bucks). Miss Scott has made this her home base for seasons and is building more and more. In fact, there's a cult of Scottites who merely drop In for a load of the Mother Kelly's, in the former Beachcomber spot in the Winter Garden theatre building on Broad- way, is doing a repeat ot its highly successful opening all-comedy bill which launched the place late in July. There are several new addi- tions, such as the Sid Tomack and Reis Bros, threesome, and funda- mentally it's the whacky comedy that makes the show. Numerous bits are irresistibly funny while others of the indigo type will attract the visit- ing firemen. Cully Rchards continues as m.c. and is listed as the producer. It's to his credit that the new layout is suf- ficiently different from the opening bill without getting away from the slapsticky pattern which made the initialer click. He's helped consider- ably in many of the uproarious sklta by the Tomack-Reis trio. He does a neat job of straighting. Blackouts and comedy skits are of' fered on a raised stage at rear of the dance floor. Production presents an unusually comely lineup of shoW' girls. The travesty on motion pIC' ture producing, with Richards as a big-eared leading man with a stand- in to do all the physical heavy work, is retained: it's still standout and registers strongly. New array has an old sea captain sketch that Is a howl, winding up with a battle royal of squirting water. Sid Tomack is the captain, with most of cast contributing to his annoyance. The gagged bubble bath blackout, spy shooting stunt, hoarding sKeteh and string of March of Time black outs also contribute to the general hilarity. Joe Oakie figures per usual in these skita as does the Tomack-Reis combo. Tomack-Reis Bros, have a 'We Want Lots of Laughs' song opener that seems a bit feeble considering the obviously much funnier other stunts and specialties they offer. The Pepsi-Cola' radio signature song, 'Sonny Boy' (with gestures and ad lib) and rhumba number generate the greatest laughter. Lolita Cordoba, willowy, torrid Latin, would do better in her classy warbling and dancing without the clowning. Beth O'Malley is the only other femme balladist, getting by on 'St. Louis Blues' and 'Old Man Mose.' Mousey Garner, who's on the re- ceiving end in the film producer skit, is a good comedy bet on the piano until he attempts q piano-singing number. 'Strawberry Blonde' quar- tet and a washwoman farce, with the males emulating the husky femmes, also are worthwhile. Opening night, per usual, ran a bit too long, but there are several extraneous sketches and' business which can l>e eliminated. Manny Gates' excellent crew plays the show and splits the dancing assignment with.Chavez.thumba .outfit. Wear. success Is indicated by the businesa ' the initial two nights. Opening was big and the following evening, when caught, the bar, which runs the depth of the room, wa: jammed and tables were well filled. Capacity at the latter is about 200. As usual in spots of this kind, the dance floor is handkerchief-sized. It's no trick to keep it crowded, but if the dancing floor were immense, McGee's band would probably keep it filled anywAy. Made up of tour sax, two trumpets, two trombones and three rhythm. McGee's group pales beside most ot the over- powering biggies. Musically it's just fair, but it has something that makes it stand above that rating from a commercial viewpoint, something that many highly rated bands never achieve—an exceptionally good dance tempo. You can't expect much more than that from such in- strumentation. McGee is smart, too. in that his books are loaded with standard tunes that audiences of the type he'll get here fall for heavily. Band plays them pleasantly and the leader himself adds a fine touch with his muted cornet. His playing is widely known, needing no comment. Alan Girard sings ballad tunes nicely and Grace Wynne handles rhythm numbers easily. Wood. UBANGI, N. Y. AQUARIUM, N. Y. Johnny McGee Orch 02) uiith Alan Girard, Grace Wynne; no mint- mum. Success of Dempsey's Restaurant, a few blocks north of this eatery, and the generqilly Increased business of all New York joints large and small, probably prompted operator Ben Harriman to install a name band policy here. While the spot, similar in physical setup to Dempsey's, was a.ssertedly doing good luncheon and dinner trade, there was little late patronage. Hence Johnny McGee and. for the first three nights at lea.st, a succession of acts, Inkspots, Ella Fitzgerald and Four Keys (New Acts) and Harvest Moon Ball win- ners. Opening onto the street a few feet north of Times Square, the room is in a position to corral pa- tronage that would otherwise pass by but is stopped by the music di.shed out by McGee's outfit. That the policy has a good chance for Savannah Churchill. Dicfc Mont- gomery, Tondalayo & Lopez, Al Guster, Tarzia, Derby & Frenchie, Line (8), Leon Abbey Orch (8); $1.75 minimum weekdays, $2.50 on weekends and holidays. This, the fifth edition of 'Harlem on Broadway,' is supposed to lie a throwback to the (iotton Club of yore. Actually its a hodgepodge of something old, something new and not enough of something blue. The only glimmer of old Harlem comes from two acts, Dick Mont- gomery, a tiny comic with robust material and a pleasing personality, and Derby & Frenchie, a pair of hoofers who close the show with a bang. Frenchie is young and vivacious but Derby Wilson is the act. He was on solo for about 10 minutes and clicked with his buck and wing, nerve rolls and chatter. Savannah Churchill, a tall, good- looking songstress, lacks the voice to match her l>eauty. Her best tune was 'Knock Me a Kiss.' after which she monotoned what sounded like an old race tune and 'Hearts Are Funny That Way.' Harry Nemo's four songs are 'I'm a Cute Little Bang! from Ubangi.* 'Hearts are Funny That .Way,' 'Hip Hip' and The Air Raid Warden's Song.' 'Bang!' and 'Wardens' are used as the opening and closing pro- duction numbers, respectively, and are overpaced. The cast races through them like they were bad news. 'Hip Hip' is excess baggage since it's spotted just before the finish, and serves as an Intro to the flnale. Nemo staged the entire pro- ceedings and It's not a good job; Charlie Morrispn is billed for the poor dance-routining. 'Hearts' is likewise lost in the shuf- fle since it opens an overlong and pseudo-modernistic ballet number by the line. Eventually this brings on Tondalayo & Lopez for a sexy ver- sion of ballroom dancing. That's highly effective, but definitely not in the Cotton Club tradition. Al Guster. a smooth tapster, Tarzia, with a supple body, a 'tiger dance' and a minimum of ability, and the Leon Abbey orch round-out the talent roster. The line pleases the eye, but suffers from stock routines and the score Is apparently beyond the ken of maestro Abtjey. Fran. ICELAND, N. Y. Danny White. Barton It Brady, Nils and Nadynne, Penn and Devon. Kiki. Les Kramer, Ted Eddy Orch (7), Angela Orch (4); no minimum or cover weekdays, $1.75 minimum Saturday and holiday nights. Mike Larsen. the Viking stow- away who started life in Manhattan as a dishwasher, later operating the Queen Mary cafe and the Iceland restaurant at the New York World's Fair, is packing 'em in at his Broad- way eatery in amazing numbers with nothlnii more alluring than an attrac- tive cafe name, an indifferent tab revue and a popular price scale. The Iceland seats around 600 for dinner and. when the partition on the left side of the room is removed, holds over 900 when the trade is heavier for the late shows. Though the food and wine prices are rea- sonable, the 'no minimum' is, of course, a snare and a delusion, since it appears to encourage moderate spending, the average check here runs pretty close to other spots with minimums of around $2. - This cellar nitery, previously tried out with Latin-type decor and en- tertainment, was marked a loser until Larsen took over almost two years ago. Price draws large femme attendance, especially for the din- ner show, with most of the cu.stomers being gals. Dance floor, as a reiiult, gets a continuous workout. Entertainment lineuD is neither (Continued on pace 481